METRO FM, the biggest commercial radio station in South Africa, is proud to announce that it has reached the 1 Million Facebook Fans milestone! The brand has had the pleasure of watching the page grow and evolve into what it is has become today. In a year, the station has managed to increase its following organically. With the station’s new leadership METRO FM has employed 360 strategies that include a huge emphasis on developing METRO FMs online presence and digital offerings that resulted in an achievement of this magnitude.

“Over 30 years METRO FM has acquired brand equity. Since 2015 through the inclusion of 360 strategies the brand’s listenership enjoyed a significant growth. This strategy increased the brand’s presence in the minds of listeners awakening all senses of the brand. Listeners are able to touch and feel the brand, allowing conversations to live and continue beyond the radio medium.” Said METRO FM Marketing Manager: Ms Christinah Mazibuko.

The SABC has invested greatly in the development of the SABC digital platforms with a significant investment in the human resources that conceptualize and implement digital content strategies.
What do 1 million fans mean?

Head of SABC Radio Digital Media Strategy: Mr Carlito Sheikh stated: “We as SABC Radio Digital Media are very proud of METRO FM for being the first radio station in the SABC radio network to achieve this milestone. It is testimony to the level of social media engagement that the station has with its tribe of fans online, making integrated media advertising campaigns a reality at SABC Radio.”
METRO FM boasts a Twitter following of over 600 000 on Twitter, 60 000 on Instagram and over 350,000 podcast downloads since the launch of the channel in 2015. The brand also launched the METRO FM VIP Club, a loyalty rewards programme, in March 2016 and it has attracted more than 15 000 registered users to date.

‘This is proof that Radio has a future in the digitally converged world, and METRO FM will continue to re-think and reshape how we play in this place in our quest to add value to the lives of South Africans’.

Gold medalists Chad Le Clos and Cameron van der Burgh have received a tumultuous welcome from the media as well as hundreds of supporters since their arrival from the London Olympics 2012. They made an appearance at SA’s top commercial radio stations, Metro FM and 5FM, earlier this week, charmingly showing off their medals. 5FM’s Gareth Cliff celebrated with Cameron on his breakfast show while Chad appeared on Metro FM’s TSI with Amon and Thato and he later serenaded the ladies on the Fresh Drive.

Gareth and his team never fail to entertain as they jokingly made references to perculiar stories that emerged from the Olympics, such as the unofficial condoms found in an Olympics village, which headlined on international news sites. Gareth could not resist exploring the idea of athletes having sultry engagements outside of the Olympics arenas. However, Cameron shyly denied engaging in any secret rendezvous as he had his eyes set only on his girlfriend, who had joined him over the period of the tournament. “As athletes we were not allowed to touch a drop of alcohol,” he said. This must have eliminated all possibility for any wild behaviour.

The conversation continued as Cameron interacted with the listeners who asked about his experience in London, the thrill of winning the 100 metres breaststroke in world record time and also meeting the invincible American swimmer, Michael Phelps. A picture of his sterling medal was shared on Gareth’s twitter page.

Cameron van der Burgh with Sias du Plessis

A fan, Kirat Diar Lalla, got a snapshot with Cameron which he posted onto his Facebook profile page.

Kirat Diar Lalla with Cameron van der Burgh

Compatriot Chad Le Clos who snatched the gold in the final stroke of the 200 butterfly from American Michael Phelps spent lunchtime with MetroFM’s duo, Amon Mokoena and Thato Mataboge, and joined 5FM’s Nicole da Silva (standing in for DJ Fresh), Poppy Ntshongwana and the rest of the Fresh Drive team an hour later.

During each interview he was praised for his fantastic win against Olympic champion, Michael Phelps and he admitted to being in total disbelief over the victory. His success has also attracted attention from eligible girls, he certainly had Nicole and Poppy in his clench as they pleaded with him to serenade them with a classic song but he failed to deliver. His cute dimple won Nicole over evidently in the photo she posted onto her Twitter page.

Chad le Clos with Nicole da Silva

Metro FM’s Thato comically tweeted about Chad’s surname and only SeSotho speakers would appreciate the humour.